BCS

The second week of July is not too early for some college football news. After all, opening kickoff is next month (I think). The Mountain West Conference (MWC) has given up their fight over the BCS and signed on to the latter’s television contract with ESPN. Bummer.

The silver lining:

The Mountain West said it has no plans to stop pushing for BCS equality, but for the next four years, their arguments will be quelled.

“The Mountain West will continue its efforts for change, including a request for dialogue with representatives of the BCS. Our goal is to ensure the eventual outcome of these endeavors is what our universities and student-athletes need, what the vast majority of American sports fans want, and what is long overdue: an equitable system.”

Once the season begins and the inevitable BCS controversy ferments, I am sure I will have plenty to say on how terrible and unfair the BCS is. Senator Orrin Hatch is leading a congressional committee to discuss possible antitrust issues associated with the BCS, and he has a nice little op-ed in last week’s Sports Illustrated. The story linked above goes a bit into the hearings if you are interested.